NICKY HENDERSON and Paul Nicholls will be battling it out on many a Saturday afternoon between now and April. Nicholls was on the mark with 7/2 joint-favourite Old Guard, who found plenty for Bryony Frost on the run-in to land the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle by nearly three lengths from Remiluc.

Old Guard, ultra-consistent, had finished third in the Greatwood at Cheltenham – form which is starting to look very smart. Frost can still claim 5lb, which is gold dust in handicap hurdles like this. She had finished second in both of the preceding races, going under narrowly each time.